Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is breathing independently at a hospital in Jerusalem, following his massive stroke last Wednesday.
Doctors said he was moving his right limbs during tests but said it was too soon to assess the damage to his brain following the stroke.
Mr Sharon's medical team decided to bring him out of an induced coma to allow them to assess the damage caused by the bleeding on his brain.
Mr Sharon, 77, has been in a critical condition since Wednesday night when he suffered his second stroke in less than three weeks.
His medical team say the Israeli Prime Minister could survive, but have ruled out the chances of him returning to his post, leaving Israel staring into a political void in his absence.
